273.020. Recovery of damages for sheep killed--disposition of dog, penalty.
Recovery of damages for sheep killed--disposition of dog, penalty.
273.020. In every case where sheep or other domestic animals are killedor maimed by dogs, the owner of such animals may recover against the owner orkeeper of such dog or dogs the full amount of damages and the owner shallforthwith kill such dog or dogs; and for every day he shall refuse or neglectto do so, after notice, he shall pay and forfeit the sum of one dollar, and itshall be lawful for any person to kill such dog or dogs; provided, however,that whenever in any case the facts shall show that in the worrying orkilling, maiming or wounding of any said sheep or other domestic animals thatthe same was done by two or more dogs belonging to different owners, then theplaintiff, the person whose animals were killed, wounded or maimed, may at hisor her election, join all of the owners of said dogs as joint tort-feasors ormay sue each one separately at his or her election.
(RSMo 1939 § 14535)Prior revisions: 1929 § 12861; 1919 § 4351; 1909 § 855
(1957) Chickens held "animals" within the statute and evidence was sufficient to support judgment. Tillery v. Cook (A.), 297 S.W.2d 9.